Chapter One Hundred: Turbulence

Upon hearing this, Lu Hao nodded. “Mom, how did you find out?”

Liu Xiulan set down her bowl. “Every day after finishing work in the village, I chat with the elderly women. Of course I know.”

“Did that group come today? I heard they were beaten and sent to the hospital by one of the old ladies.”

“Oh dear, be careful. Our family can’t afford any trouble now.”

“Don’t be reckless and get into fights with them,” Liu Xiulan warned earnestly, her eyes fixed on her son.

Lu Hao nodded. “Don’t worry, Mom. When they showed up, I just let them eat for free and sent them on their way, haha.”

Suddenly, his father put down his bowl, his expression darkening. “Useless. How can you be a boss if you act like that? They ate for free and still smashed up your restaurant.”

“Why didn’t you call us? You’ve got your uncle, cousins, and so many relatives in the village.”

“We’re running a proper business. Are we really afraid of some gangsters, bullies, and village thugs?”

Lu Hao gave a bitter laugh. His father had foresight; he knew that if a bunch of troublemakers stirred up chaos in the restaurant, the business wouldn’t survive.

Though his father endured humiliation silently when the family clashed with the Sun Group, when it came to his son’s future, he would not yield an inch.

After all, opposing the Sun Group brought no benefit; it was better to adopt a policy of patience. But the restaurant was different. If it were constantly disrupted, the monthly investments would be wasted.

At this moment, Lu Weiguo rose, leaning on his cane, his face grave as he looked at Lu Hao.

“Son! Don’t be afraid. Tomorrow, I’ll take your uncles, along with shovels, hoes, and sickles, to defend your business.”

“If those people dare to come again, freeload, or vandalize your place, we’ll fight to the death!” Lu Weiguo’s eyes reddened as he declared.

“Fight to the death, huh?” Liu Xiulan curled her lips and said to Lu Weiguo, “Have you even recovered enough to stand on those two legs of yours?”

“You’re half buried in the ground already. How can you go fight anyone?” she added.

Lu Hao spoke up. “Dad, don’t worry. It’s already handled. That group has been dealt with. They’re still lying in the hospital and won’t be out for a long time.”

“Really? No problem at all?” Lu Weiguo looked at Lu Hao seriously.

“Of course.” Lu Hao nodded.

“Good. I trust you to handle things,” Lu Weiguo said, seeing his son’s firm gaze.

“Also, about transferring the restaurant to your second uncle, have you thought it over…” Liu Xiulan brought up the matter again.

The once peaceful dinner table suddenly thundered with tension.

“Xiulan! How many times have I told you not to mention that! Why should the old hands of Weiming interfere in the affairs of the young?” Lu Weiguo slammed down his chopsticks and glared at Liu Xiulan.

Lu Weiguo had been a soldier in his youth and usually didn’t argue over trivial matters. But when it came to principle, he never backed down.

Liu Xiulan, sensing his temper rising, dared not raise her voice.

“What do you know as a woman? You’ve never run a restaurant. You don’t need to order Lu Hao around. He earned this by his own skill. Why should he sell it cheap?” Lu Weiguo said.

“That’s selling to family, how is it selling cheap?” Liu Xiulan murmured.

“Say that again,” Lu Weiguo’s gaze turned intimidating.

“Mom, Dad, please calm down,” Lu Hao quickly intervened. “I know how to handle this. Trust me, there won’t be any problems.”

After a moment’s thought, Liu Xiulan decided to speak.

“Son, you don’t know; your second uncle holds a lot of sway on your father’s side. The two brothers have been fighting over your matter these past days.”

“Now the relatives on your father’s side are even scolding our family, saying we’ve gotten rich but aren’t sharing the wealth with kin.”

“Tell me, how will this end? Sigh.” She sighed deeply, as if troubled to the point of losing her appetite.

For older rural folks, family visits during festivals were important. If their family’s reputation in Taohua Village was ruined, it would be unbearable.

At this, Lu Weiguo could no longer hold back.

He stood and pointed at Liu Xiulan. “What does this have to do with you? This is between brothers. As a woman, don’t meddle.”

Lu Weiguo continued solemnly, “Don’t I know what kind of man Lu Weiming is? Now that our son is starting to make progress, he wants to reach into our family’s affairs. I won’t allow it.”

Liu Xiulan responded, “He’s your own brother.”

“Would he harm us? Didn’t he already agree to help Lu Hao reduce risks and even share profits?”

“That’s Lu Hao’s own restaurant. Why should he share profits with him? You really are shortsighted and hopeless,” Lu Weiguo’s anger flared, as though recalling how he had once suffered from his scheming younger brother.

As the two argued without resolution, Liu Xiulan’s phone suddenly rang.

Not wanting to continue the quarrel, she went inside and answered.

“Hello? Xiulan, it’s Xiulian. How have you been lately?” A middle-aged woman’s voice came through.

Hearing this, Liu Xiulan smiled and nodded.

“Second sister, things have been okay.”

The caller was Liu Xiulan’s biological second sister, who had done relatively well among their relatives in the village over the years.

Her family had a son and a daughter; the son worked in Shanghai as a white-collar employee with a high salary.

The daughter was still studying, having just succeeded in upgrading her diploma; she planned to prepare for graduate exams next year.

Their family always spoke with an air of arrogance.

“I heard your son took over the Nei Jiang Restaurant in the village. Is it true?” Liu Xiulian probed.

“It’s true.”

“Oh, your son’s really capable. University wasn’t wasted on him. I knew I wasn’t wrong about him,” Liu Xiulian said, though her envy was deep beneath her words.

“Xiulan, now that your son’s successful, don’t forget us relatives.”